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Why so thin?

george-brooks

george-brooks

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 31, 2011
732
16
Brooklyn, NY
I'm perplexed why Apple decided to make the new iMac so thin, at such great expense. There has been this obsession with thinness lately that is simply not appropriate to extend to a desktop line. Who sees the sides of the computer when its sitting on a desk? I would've preferred a thicker computer with an even bezel all the way around the screen, like the Thunderbolt Display. THAT would've been a design upgrade!

The world is going increasingly mobile, and thin makes sense there, but it also means that less people are using desktops. The ones that are are the ones that need the extra power and features. So why focus on making it thin when what we really need are replaceable HDs, a beefier GPU, better cooling, etc.

The new iMac is certainly beautiful, probably the sexiest iMac yet. But I am concerned that Apple is valuing form so much more than function these days.

Thoughts?
 
It's only thin around the edges. Towards the center of the back it bulges out where most of the components are. You just can't see it from the angle they use in the pictures, but it was briefly visible during the presentation.
 
george-brooks said:
I'm perplexed why Apple decided to make the new iMac so thin, at such great expense. There has been this obsession with thinness lately that is simply not appropriate to extend to a desktop line. Who sees the sides of the computer when its sitting on a desk? I would've preferred a thicker computer with an even bezel all the way around the screen, like the Thunderbolt Display. THAT would've been a design upgrade!

The world is going increasingly mobile, and thin makes sense there, but it also means that less people are using desktops. The ones that are are the ones that need the extra power and features. So why focus on making it thin when what we really need are replaceable HDs, a beefier GPU, better cooling, etc.

The new iMac is certainly beautiful, probably the sexiest iMac yet. But I am concerned that Apple is valuing form so much more than function these days.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

The average consumer doesn't look at specs before buying a computer. They will take one look at how beautiful and thin the new iMac is and buy that, never knowing that it doesn't have user upgradeable RAM!
 
george-brooks said:
I'm perplexed why Apple decided to make the new iMac so thin, at such great expense. There has been this obsession with thinness lately that is simply not appropriate to extend to a desktop line. Who sees the sides of the computer when its sitting on a desk? I would've preferred a thicker computer with an even bezel all the way around the screen, like the Thunderbolt Display. THAT would've been a design upgrade!

The world is going increasingly mobile, and thin makes sense there, but it also means that less people are using desktops. The ones that are are the ones that need the extra power and features. So why focus on making it thin when what we really need are replaceable HDs, a beefier GPU, better cooling, etc.

The new iMac is certainly beautiful, probably the sexiest iMac yet. But I am concerned that Apple is valuing form so much more than function these days.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I disagree. Apple has made their reputation on great design. Your premise is that the computer is only viewed directly from the front. While that is the primary viewing angle during actual use... it is not the primary way the computer is seen the rest of the time.

The new iMac has a stunning appearance overall. Lots of people value that... as evidenced by Apple's stock price.

/Jim
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
The average consumer doesn't look at specs before buying a computer. They will take one look at how beautiful and thin the new iMac is and buy that, never knowing that it doesn't have user upgradeable RAM!
Click to expand...

The 27" has user upgradable RAM. I think the enthusiasts are going to go 27" for a variety reasons while the 21.5 owners are often more basic in their scope of what they need done.
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
The average consumer doesn't look at specs before buying a computer. They will take one look at how beautiful and thin the new iMac is and buy that, never knowing that it doesn't have user upgradeable RAM!
Click to expand...

When I looked at the spec sheets for the model I will buy (27") I saw the specs for 4 user upgradable RAM slots.

/Jim
 
flynz4 said:
I disagree. Apple has made their reputation on great design. Your premise is that the computer is only viewed directly from the front. While that is the primary viewing angle during actual use... it is not the primary way the computer is seen the rest of the time.

The new iMac has a stunning appearance overall. Lots of people value that... as evidenced by Apple's stock price.

/Jim
Click to expand...

I think it plummeted 20 points today at one point.
 
Apple has always walked the line between form and function. Sometimes they lean one way, sometimes they lean the other.

The problem is that CPUs, GPUs, and RAM are getting so fast that they don't need to be the top of the line for the average consumer (i.e. their largest demographic). I mean, as an engineering student, I can honestly say I do much more computationally intensive things than the average person, but my base iMac works just splendidly!

But for those people who just want a nice family computer in their living room that doesn't take up too much space and compliments the rest of the room nicely, this new iMac is perfect. Very stylish, very sleek, and very capable. It'll sell like hotcakes and the tradeoff of personal upgradeability is something we performance-seekers will have to deal with.

Luckily the 27in kept the user-upgradeable RAM... and I'm sure once iFixit tears it apart, we'll figure out how to upgrade the HDD/SSD, CPU, and GPU (like we've done with the 2011). I'm not worried and I think it looks awesome. Probably my favorite product released today!
 
george-brooks said:
I

The world is going increasingly mobile, and thin makes sense there, but it also means that less people are using desktops. The ones that are are the ones that need the extra power and features. So why focus on making it thin when what we really need are replaceable HDs, a beefier GPU, better cooling, etc.
Click to expand...


Im perplexed why anyone who is mainly concerned about better cooling, replaceable HDs..etc would even care about an iMac?


Its really odd how so many people are bitching about this. What path did everyone think Apple was going to take with the iMac?

News Flash people. iMacs will continue to to thiner as the years go on. Either move on to Mac Pros or change your OS.
 
I don't know how other Apple stores and retailers work around the world, but down under each iMac, MacBook, iPad or iPhone are on flat tables without any "shelf clutter". I think it's part progress in being able to make things more efficient in smaller components aided with aesthetic appeal in shops that sell both Apple and Windows. It sets them apart from the competition in looks, and appeals to a persons inner desire to feel richer than they really are.
 
nuckinfutz said:
Apple stock always drops on launch day. Good buying opportunity.
Click to expand...

Entire market dropped 2% when it opened today based on European economy concerns. Apple is down a little more than 3%, but yes nothing more than normal launch day drop. Analysts wait for "one more thing" that they can understand, don't hear it, then decide announcement was a failure. The problem is that they can't understand what they hear or see how it will play out in the market, so they are always disappointed at launch day and then shocked at the sales figures next quarter.
 
nuckinfutz said:
The 27" has user upgradable RAM. I think the enthusiasts are going to go 27" for a variety reasons while the 21.5 owners are often more basic in their scope of what they need done.
Click to expand...

flynz4 said:
When I looked at the spec sheets for the model I will buy (27") I saw the specs for 4 user upgradable RAM slots.

/Jim
Click to expand...

Yeah I actually saw that.
I'm not actually sure what people are complaining about. As long as you're happy to pay for a maxed out 27" iMac, I fail to see what Apple could have done to make the thing better, 2GB high end graphics card, i7, etc. This is an awesome update imo. My 2009 iMac is still blazing fast with its SSD, otherwise I'd consider saving for this new one
 
KylePowers said:
The problem is that CPUs, GPUs, and RAM are getting so fast that they don't need to be the top of the line for the average consumer (i.e. their largest demographic). I mean, as an engineering student, I can honestly say I do much more computationally intensive things than the average person, but my base iMac works just splendidly!
Click to expand...
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
This is exactly why I like my 11" Macbook Air so much.
I do audio recording, and mixed an entire album on it in Logic, with some songs hitting as many as 60+ tracks. The CPU was nowhere near maxed. Not even 50%.
The form factor of this computer is a huge boon for me. Lightweight and small means I can easily sling it over my shoulder with an audio interface in the bag and still carry my guitar in one hand and amp in the other.
With these desktops, they do everything anyone needs it to (those higher end configurations are FAST!) AND as a bonus they're incredibly uncluttered and will look amazing anywhere in anyone's home.
If looks/design/form of products didn't affect our enjoyment of said products, then cars wouldn't come in bright colors with sexy curves, guitars would have never gotten angles, we wouldn't have a billion shades of "white" for the paint in our living rooms.
I recently got a cherry red Epiphone Casino. I love the way that guitar sounds, but it s a JOY to play because of how it looks and feels.
 
No more digital audio input. Lame. Even the new Mac Mini has one.
 
Thin is in. Just look at large screen HGTVs. My 46" Sony is only 1/2" thick around the bezel. It's not until you're almost edge on that you see the 1" thick bulge for the electronics. It's the same for the new iMac. You also have to be almost edge on to see it's true thickness.
 
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